Below are two documents that will be helpful as you write your letters to your congressmen and senators. The first is a "What to include in your letter" and the second is an Excel spreadsheet to help you determine who to address your letters to (remember, you must address one to the congressman that represents your home town and the second to the congressman that represents your school district).
Below is my Lucy story I used for my Demonstration Lesson. This is the first time IN A LONG TIME I have attempted fictional writing. I am not comfortable with it at all, but it is becoming easier. At the beginning of the school year my students study reptiles so I thought it would be fun to write a story from a snake's perspective. My inspiration for my character is my boyfriend's ball python, Lucy. Please help me to make this better
The file below is another poem I completed while my students were writing their own. This poem is entitled "Where I'm From." I asked the students to think about their family, friends, and important memories when creating this poem. They used the template below to as a guide, but were free to move away from this guide and do their own thing. My own copy is a work in progress. One line is highlighted because I still don't know how to get out what I want to say. Suggestions are welcome!
Every year for Mother's Day I have my students write "My Dreams" poems. I ask the students to brainstorm their favorite things (foods, sounds, tastes, smells, colors, seasons, etcetera), their wishes/goals for the future, and important memories. The poems begin with "When I am by myself, and I close my eyes..." The rest of the lines in the poem then list all the things that make them who they are based on what they brainstormed. Below is the poem I created while my students worked on their own. What do you think? How can I make this more powerful?
“My Dreams”
By: Ashley Thesen
When I am by myself,
And I close my eyes,
I’m a single radiant leaf drifting toward the ground on a crisp fall day,
A warm cup of hot chocolate thawing a hand near a blazing fire,
A laugh that rings out loud and clear in a small, quiet room,
I’m terrified when air rushes past as I freefall through the air,
A world traveler made breathless by this planet’s beauty,
A smile that illuminates when my sister exits the train station,
A brilliant beam of light that sets the sky on fire,
The pounding of hooves and the quickening beat of my heart as we ride around the ring,
The smooth, creamy taste of Rich’s Farm Mocha Almond Fudge on my tongue,
I’m blanketed by a sky of stars in Tanglewood while soothing notes from pianos, violins, and cellos wash over me,
Stifled giggles under a sleeping bag as stories are put to song,
I’m quick to say yes and afraid to fail,
A child at heart still scurrying down the stairs to see what Santa brought for Christmas,
A connection a student makes and the realization that what I do does make a difference,
Bubbling homemade mac and cheese waiting to be pulled from the oven,
A nose pressed to the oven window anxiously waiting for the moment when the bread is ready to be devoured,
An old library and the dusty smell of newly read pages,
An old pen finally put to paper,
I’m a novice Habitat builder who works alongside a thankful family,
The crackling of falling snow on a silent night,
A thankful daughter to treasured parents,
A passenger on a lawn mower trailer giggling as I wave to a tearful sister,
I’m a stark white blossom on a newly budded tree,
The long, wet tongue which hangs out the side of the jovial dog’s mouth,
An Orange Street sushi roll with soybean nori,
The deafening sound of frothy waves pummeling a bright white beach,
The untouched beauty of Ireland’s countryside,
An ancient Gaelic cross tattooed to symbolize unconditional love,
I’m a single, clear note played quietly on a baby grand,
A clown trigger dashing quickly beneath the coral,
A scuba diver observing the bright world that surrounds me,
I’m an ancient, Hawaiian volcano awoken each day by the rising sun,
A face lifted toward the sky during a sudden summer shower,
I’m biting into chocolate, too impatient to wait for it to melt in my mouth,
A proud teacher waiting for the moment when a child starts to read,
A bride slowly walking down the isle biting back tears,
A mother anxious to see her own children grow,
A station clock waiting to chime,
And finally,
A dreamer who knows that “dreams are illustrations…from the book your soul is writing about you.” ~Marsha Norman
Below is my Lucy story I used for my Demonstration Lesson. This is the first time IN A LONG TIME I have attempted fictional writing. I am not comfortable with it at all, but it is becoming easier. At the beginning of the school year my students study reptiles so I thought it would be fun to write a story from a snake's perspective. My inspiration for my character is my boyfriend's ball python, Lucy. Please help me to make this better
The file below is another poem I completed while my students were writing their own. This poem is entitled "Where I'm From." I asked the students to think about their family, friends, and important memories when creating this poem. They used the template below to as a guide, but were free to move away from this guide and do their own thing. My own copy is a work in progress. One line is highlighted because I still don't know how to get out what I want to say. Suggestions are welcome!
Every year for Mother's Day I have my students write "My Dreams" poems. I ask the students to brainstorm their favorite things (foods, sounds, tastes, smells, colors, seasons, etcetera), their wishes/goals for the future, and important memories. The poems begin with "When I am by myself, and I close my eyes..." The rest of the lines in the poem then list all the things that make them who they are based on what they brainstormed. Below is the poem I created while my students worked on their own. What do you think? How can I make this more powerful?
“My Dreams”
By: Ashley Thesen
When I am by myself,
And I close my eyes,
I’m a single radiant leaf drifting toward the ground on a crisp fall day,
A warm cup of hot chocolate thawing a hand near a blazing fire,
A laugh that rings out loud and clear in a small, quiet room,
I’m terrified when air rushes past as I freefall through the air,
A world traveler made breathless by this planet’s beauty,
A smile that illuminates when my sister exits the train station,
A brilliant beam of light that sets the sky on fire,
The pounding of hooves and the quickening beat of my heart as we ride around the ring,
The smooth, creamy taste of Rich’s Farm Mocha Almond Fudge on my tongue,
I’m blanketed by a sky of stars in Tanglewood while soothing notes from pianos, violins, and cellos wash over me,
Stifled giggles under a sleeping bag as stories are put to song,
I’m quick to say yes and afraid to fail,
A child at heart still scurrying down the stairs to see what Santa brought for Christmas,
A connection a student makes and the realization that what I do does make a difference,
Bubbling homemade mac and cheese waiting to be pulled from the oven,
A nose pressed to the oven window anxiously waiting for the moment when the bread is ready to be devoured,
An old library and the dusty smell of newly read pages,
An old pen finally put to paper,
I’m a novice Habitat builder who works alongside a thankful family,
The crackling of falling snow on a silent night,
A thankful daughter to treasured parents,
A passenger on a lawn mower trailer giggling as I wave to a tearful sister,
I’m a stark white blossom on a newly budded tree,
The long, wet tongue which hangs out the side of the jovial dog’s mouth,
An Orange Street sushi roll with soybean nori,
The deafening sound of frothy waves pummeling a bright white beach,
The untouched beauty of Ireland’s countryside,
An ancient Gaelic cross tattooed to symbolize unconditional love,
I’m a single, clear note played quietly on a baby grand,
A clown trigger dashing quickly beneath the coral,
A scuba diver observing the bright world that surrounds me,
I’m an ancient, Hawaiian volcano awoken each day by the rising sun,
A face lifted toward the sky during a sudden summer shower,
I’m biting into chocolate, too impatient to wait for it to melt in my mouth,
A proud teacher waiting for the moment when a child starts to read,
A bride slowly walking down the isle biting back tears,
A mother anxious to see her own children grow,
A station clock waiting to chime,
And finally,
A dreamer who knows that “dreams are illustrations…from the book your soul is writing about you.” ~Marsha Norman